Needle drive



March '3, 1931.

R. BUTTERWORTH NEEDLE DRIVE Filed March 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I PWWT m 5 m h M my lilllmlllllll mmwm l lllllllllllllllllllll March 3, 1931. R. BUTTERWORTH NEEDLE DRIVE Filed March 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Richard flaiierwonl'h Patented Mar. 3, 1931 RICHARD BUTTERWORTH, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA NEEDLE nmvn Application filed March 15, 1930-. Serial No. 436,231.

This invention relates to an improved driving mechanism for looms, and more particularly 1"or looms utilizing filler rods or needles.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism utilizing an endless chain movement in such a manner as to provide a greatly increased rest period for the filller rods while the lay mechanism performs the beating operation and the sheds change.

A further object is to provide a driving mechanism which permits the use of a smallor shed andthe location of the filler rods closer to the lay and nearer the wide part of the shed, thus producing smoother operation, less stress on the Warp yarn and less strain and wear on the harness mechanism.

A further object is to permit the use of larger filler rods, thus minimizing sagging and eliminating the tendency for the rods to ride the warp yarn and facilitating the operations ofthe filler binding mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved driving mechanism eliminating all eccentric, elliptical, intermittent gears, or similar variable speed devices and the provision of a continuous operating mechanism with a substantial reduction in vibration, friction on the warp yarns and corresponding increase of permissible speed.

Further objects of the invention will more particularly appear in connection with the following detailed description.

Two sheets of drawings, largely diagrammatical, accompany this specification as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the shed mechanism of a loom;

Figure 2 is an elevation largely diagrammatic illustrating the continuous drive chain for the filler rods; 7 1

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the connection of the filler rods with the rod drive mechanism;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the showing in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 5'-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the shed showing the improved location of the filler needles. i

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a conventional loom beam, 2 indicates hais nesses, 3 indicates thelay and 44 the filler needles or rods. The warp threads are indicated by 5, and the shed by 6. 6c

Adjacent the shed is positioned a guide box 7 within which is adapted to slide a block 8 associated with a stud 9, which extends through a suitable slot in the guide box. On the inner endof the stud 9 is pivoted a member 10 to which is afiixed a flat flexible spring member 11 provided withtwospaced holes. A threaded rod 12 is passed through the hole in spring 11 nearest its free end and lock nuts 18 are provided to adjustably secure the end of spring 11 with respect to rod 12, which rod is further secured as by nuts 14 to laterally projecting. flanges 15 formed on filler rods .4. A smooth rod 16 having threaded ends is passed through the intermediate hole 75. in spring 11 and has its ends secured as by nuts 17 to flanges 15 of the fillerrods 4. Compression springs 18 are positioned on rod 16 on either side of spring member 11 with their outer ends abutting the inner nuts 17, securing the rod to the flanges 15. By reason of this structure it will be apparent that the filler rods 4 are associated with the slide block.

8 by a resilient flexible connection adapted to absorb all minor shocks. 1 On the outer end of stud 9 is pivotally secured one end of a link 19, the other end of said link being pivotally secured to a pin 20 passing through an endless chain 21.

The endless chain 21 passes over a relatively small sprocket wheel 22 located adjacentthe shed and over a relatively large sprocket wheel 24 positioned adjacent the outer end of the guide box 7 andbetween guide rollers 23-23 positioned intermediate the sprockets 22 and 24 adjacent the latter, so that the chain 21 extends substantially the length of the guide box 7 with its two reaches parallel and spaced apart the diameter of the smallest sprocket wheel 22. The link 19 is in 1.9.)

length equal to the radius of the largest Sprocket wheel 24.

By reason of this structure and referring particularly to Figure 2, it will be apparent that the rotation of the chain 21 in the direction indicated by arrow D will reciprocate stud 9 and therewith slide block, 8 and filler rods 4 substantially the distance between the small sprocket wheel 22 and the guide rollers. i Q

23. When the filler needles reach the outer most position adjacent the guide rollers 23, it

will be apparent that link 19. will commence a pivoting movement, while the stud 9 remains I stationary and the period of this pivoting movement will be proportional to the diameter of the large sprocket wheel 24, and will continue until pin connecting the link 19 to chain 21 passes around the circumference of the sprocket wheel 24; .v

As indicated in dotted lines on this Figure 2 the filler needles will, in the position of link 19; indicated in dot-ted lines as at (a), be in the shed; in thepositions indicated by (b) the rods will have reached the end of their travel in position for filling yarn to be looped in positions (0) and (d), filler rods are on "their return movement, the pick having been completed and slide block 8 being pushed by link 19 as indicated. Between'the positions (6) and slide'block Sand filler rods 4 will be substairitially stationary permitting the beating and shifting ofthe shed'operations.

7 various modifications of the structure and designof the parts will readily suggest themselvest'o those ski-lied in the art, but within the scope of the present invention as claimed.

WhatI claim is:

member of a length equal to the radius of the larger guide. v

2. The structure of claim 1 with guide means bearing against the outer face of the drive member to maintain the two reaches of same p 'rallel and spaced apart the diameter of the smaller guide.

'3. The structure of claim 1 with a slide block operated by the link, and flexible meians connecting the slide block and filler ro s;

4; Filler rods having lateral flanges, rods connecting and spacing said flanges, a spring strap secured by one end on one of said -con necting rods, the other rod passing through the spring strap, compression members positioned on either side of the spring strap and bearing against the flanges adjacent the lat ter r0d,'and means for reciprocating the filler rods through said spring strap;

7 In testimony whereof I afiix my vsignature.

RICHARD BUTTERWVOBTH; 7

An improved drive for filler'rods coin prising an endless flexible drive member passing over guides of difierent diameters with a' link associating' the filler rods with the drive 

